UFC champion keeps focus on reigning in ring
Poland’s Jedrzejczyk doesn’t let outside forces hinder her pursuit of perfection.
Lessons gained in defeat can be valuable, but when you haven’t tasted loss the alternative can be to learn from others’ failures.
It doesn’t take much imagination to see where unbeaten UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland has found the resolve to keep grinding as she chases a record-tying sixth women’s title victory Saturday night against Jessica Andrade of Brazil at UFC 211 in Dallas.
“All eyes are on me … the coaches, the camps have more time to check my weaknesses and work on that … they have more time to study my fighting style,” Jedrzejczyk recently told reporters at a luncheon in Los Angeles. “But I am moving forward. I challenge myself every day.”
Though the title run of former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey skidded to a halt at six victories as Hollywood and other pursuits distracted her, Jedrzejczyk (13-0) professes to a singular focus.
“There is a time for media, sponsorship obligations, for other stuff, but when I have a fight booked, it is just about the fight,” she said. “There is no money which is going to pull me away from the preparations from the camp. I am just focused on that, because people want to see me in good shape in the fight. I am not going to be in good shape by doing photo shoots or media. It is all about being the best athlete, more than some kind of celebrity.”
Training at the respected Florida gym that also boasts women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, Jedrzejczyk sharpens her ability to endure her opponents’ best threats, whether it be Claudia Gadelha’s early pressure on the canvas or Karolina Kowalkiewicz’s punches, while asserting her own power shots.
Andrade, 25, has won three consecutive fights to improve to 16-5, with a higher average in striking accuracy (52%) than the champion.
The two previously trained together.
“In sparring,” Jedrzejcyzk said, “I learned I can submit her and KO her, but the fight is different … this is in the past. She is a very dangerous opponent, very strong. It is going to be interesting. She is very explosive, hits very hard, goes for good takedowns. I must keep my eyes open from the first seconds of the fight.” Is the champ vulnerable? “I like when people put me down and then I shine through during the fight,” Jedrzejczyk said. “When I step to the octagon, I feel like home.”
The UFC recently created a 125-pound division that would make weight cuts easier on the 115-pound champion, and Jedrzejczyk said she’s interested in making the move up in weight to collect a second belt by next year and ease her concerns about the toll of grueling weight cuts on future motherhood.
She’s engaged and she turns 30 in August.
“Being a champion is just part of our lives, part of the story,” she said. “After a few years, we are going to raise kids, be mothers, wives or do some other stuff. We must make sure we are going to be healthy and able to do normal things at home.”
Eventually, she knows, such pursuits will trump fighting.
“Ronda Rousey, she had six title defenses, so I want to get to this spot as well,” she said. “I like that with every fight I break some small records, with punches, kicks or other things. I want to be an undefeated champion and stay humble and work hard enough to retire this way.”
Etc.
UFC organizers announced Friday that the rivalry between light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones — a former division king whose reign ended by suspension, not in the octagon — will be renewed July 29 at the Honda Center in UFC 214.